Ribbon feed and reverse mechanism



y 1955 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,184,028

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 I I'M 1AN I we, 70/ 1, l

l 1- 66/ 680) t 639 70:; E 3 1 663 1 I 11 706 7 W V (65L. 0 1 g a I 1 2I" firu\ ea 1' 656 \LA H 77 679 @"M' 643 L) INVENTOR Eon/4R0 FKLE/NGCHM/DT i JOSEPH A. MANKAW/CH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 18, 1965 E. F.KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,134,023

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR fan 4R0 kLc'M/schw/ar JOSEPH A. MANKAW/c/IATTORNEYS May 18, 1965 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,134,028

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS EDWARD l. KLEI/VscHM/DT Flt- JmsEPH A.MANKAWICH BY YW.

ATTORNEYS May 18, 1965 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 8 8 RIBBON FEED ANDREVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR [ow/m0 E KLE/Nsc HMIAr JOSEPH A. MANKAWICH /M MQM ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,184,028 RIBESN FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM EdwardF. Kleinschmidt, Wilmette, Eli and Joseph A.

Mankawich, Las Vegas, Nev., assignors to SUM Corporation, a corporationof New York Original application Nov. 3%, 195 Ser. N 0. 472,076, newPatent No. 3,(i14,tl95, dated Dec. 19, 1961. Divided and thisapplication June 12, 1961, Ser. No. 116,493 11 Claims. (Cl. 197-161)This invention relates to a recording printing and perforating mechanismand more particularly to the ink ribbon feed and reverse mechanism for acombined mechanism adapted to receive coded signaling conditions andconvert them into printed character and perforated code manifestationson a single message medium, such as tape. This application is a divisionof co-pending application Serial No. 472,076, filed on November 30,1954, now Patent No. 3,014,095, dated December 19, 1961, for Printer andPerforator.

Novel features such as the specific ink ribbon feed and reversing unit,have been incorporated in the printer of the parent application toprovide a high-speed, small, compact lightweight and rugged receiver.The ink ribbon feed and reversing device, as an example, is constructedof a minimum number of parts so arranged to occupy minimum width, heightand depth, yet it utilizes standard ribbon lengths with dependable feed,reversing and self-inking of the ribbon. A novel cooperativerelationship between the ribbon mechanism and the other machinefunctions permits a very high-speed operation of the punching andprinting mechanisms while at the same time enabling a relatively slowand hence smoother ribbon feed operation.

A primary object resides in the provision of a novel small compact inkedribbon feed and reversing mechanism for use with printing machines.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel inked ribbon feedand reversing mechanism in novel combination with the reciprocabletypewheel and power means of a tape printer and perforator.

Further novel features and objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and the appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferredembodiment thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the ink ribbon mechanism with the spoolsremoved;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the ink ribbon assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a left-hand elevation of the ink ribbon assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a right-hand perspective of the ink ribbon operatingmechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a front perspective view of a covered reperforator unitembodying the ink ribbon mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the various majorsub-assemblies of the reperforator;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the typewheel reciprocatingmechanism;

FIGURE 8 is an elevation view of the typewheel reciprocating and figureshifting mechanism as seen from the rear of the machine; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a prior art ribbon spool compatiblefor use in the present invention.

General As illustrated in the drawings, the ink ribbon feed and reversemechanism of this invention is embodied in a compact, self-containedcode receiver having provisions for receiving and converting signalingconditions, such as ice the electrical mark and space signals of eitherpolar or neutral type, to mechanically positioned elements and from themto accomplish a printed and perforated character representation of thereceived code on a message tape. Although the drawings disclose only areceiver unit, it is to be understood that this unit can be used inconjunction with a printer monitor for a keyboard transmitter.

With particular reference to FIGURE 5, the recorder is embodied in atape printing and perforating receiver unit 1599. The unit is enclosedin a dust cover 162 fabricated in two parts, 103 and H94, hinged along arear edge at 1535. Access to the receiver for various operatingcontrols, replenishing message tape and changing the inked ribbon isenabled by swinging the upper section 193 of the dusk cover 162 up andto the rear.

In FIGURE 6, the component subassemblies of the receiver unit (exceptingthe dust cover) are illustrated in exploded perspective. Thesecomponents include the base frame 110, which supports and positions thedust cover M2, houses and mounts various electric components andterminals and provides support structure, either directly or indirectly,for the other component subassemblies. Mounted directly on the baseframe is the message tape supply reel assembly 112 and the powerdistribution assembly 114. The power distribution assembly includes thevarious drive shafts and clutches and the two vertical frame members 115and 116, which support the selector group 118 including the polar magnet12%), the motor 122;, the printing and punching assembly 1.24 and theinked ribbon feed and reversing assembly 126.

Motor and power distribution The illustrated embodiment of this printingand perforating receiver utilizes a synchronous motor 122, designed tooperate at a constant speed of 3,600 rpm, mounted on the rear ofvertical frame 116 (FIGURE 5) which transfers power to the main shaftthrough a gear set.

Eight cams on the function shaft permit the shaft to initiate and supplythe necessary power for a number of operations. The eight cams arelisted in sequence below. The use of each of the cams is covered in thedescription of the mechanisms of the reperforator in the aforesaidparent application, but are noted herein to indicate the coordinationbetween inked ribbon feed action and other machine operations.

(1) Code ring locking lever stud cam.

(2) Typewheel reciprocating and detent cam.

(3) Sensing levers restoring cam.

(4) Transfer lever restoring cam.

(5) Print cam.

(6) Typewheel register cam.

(7) Ribbon feed cam 248.

(8) Punch arm cam.

All of the foregoing eight cams are double with the exception of theribbon feed cam 248, hence for each /2 revolution of the function shaft194 each of seven cams will accomplish one operation while the ribbonfeed cam 24% completes an operation for each full revolution of thefunction shaft.

Ribbon feed and ribbon reversing As clearly shown in FIGURE 6, theribbon supply mechanism 126 is separable from the reperi'orator as aunit. Referring specifically to FIGURES 1-4, the ribbon mechanismincludes a support 637 that is bolted to the punching and printingassembly support frame 258. The ribbon mechanism operating lever 638 hasone arm can formed as a yoke shaped cam follower, which in assembly fitsaround the periphery of the ribbon feed cam 3 248 on the function shaft194 (FIGURE 6). Ribbon feed cam 248 is an eccentric with only one highand one low portion as compared with the two high and two low portionsfor most other cams in this unit. Thus, as the function shaft 194 onlyrotates one half revolution upon reception of one code group, receptionof two code groups is required to operate the ribbon mechanism camfollower arm 639 through one cycle. This permits the ribbon feed tooperate at a slow speed compared to the printing, punching and tapefeeding and eliminates high speed, jumpy ribbon action.

Operation of the function shaft 194 swings the follower arm 639 ofoperating lever 638 to left and right. Lever 638 is pivoted on anadjustable eccentric post 640 mounted in support 637 and includes anupper bifurcated arm 641 that moves up and down as the cam follower arm639 moves left and right. The bifurcated lever end 641 engages the bightor bridge 642 of a U-shaped vertically disposed link 643 through a slot64-4- provided in one side leg of the U-shaped link. Fastened to the topof support 637 is a horizontal plate 645 having two vertical ears 646journailing a shaft 647. A cross link 656, pivotally disposed on shaft647 between the two ears 646, extends back to and is pivotally connectedto the two legs of the U-shaped link 643 by pin 653. The U-shaped link643 is thus maintained in substantially vertical alignment bycooperation between bifurcated lever end 641 and the slot 644 and by thecross link 650, while also being reciprocated up and down by movement oflever 638.

Feed mechanism 126 includes two ribbon feed pawls 652, two ribbon feeddetent levers 653, two feed ratchet wheels 654, and two ribbon sensinglevers 655, one of each for each spool 636.

The two feed pawls 652 are pivotally mounted on and extended upward froma shaft 656 carried by the U- shaped link 643. just above the slot 644.Closely adjacent the top of support 637 a ratchet wheel and spool axle657 passes through and is fixed in the support by a set screw. The rightand left hand ratchet wheels 654 are journalled on the axle 657 oneither side of the support 637 and maintained in fixed axialrelationship by fingers 660 integral with plate 645. Each ratchet wheel654 includes a fixed drive hub 661 with a driving key 662 adapted, inassembly, to be engaged by a slotted hub 636a in the ribbon spool 636(see FIGURE 9). Intermediate the length of each feed pawl 652 is anintegral 7 horizontal bar 663 extending parallel to the axle 657 andacross the periphery of each ratchet wheel 654.

To maintain one of the feed pawls 652 pivoted so the transverse'bar 663engages its respective ratchet wheel 654 and the other pawl pivoted soits transverse bar 663 is out of engagement with its respective ratchetwheel 654, an interconnected toggle arrangement is provided at the upperend of the U-shaped link 643. l'ournalled, and retained by spring clips664 on each side of the vertical legs of the U-shaped link 643, on a rod665 passing through the vertical legs is a toggle lever 666. Dependingfrom each toggle lever 666 is a short arm 667 positioned between twolaterally extended spaced lugs 668 on the upper end of the correspondingpawl 652. A small compression spring 670 is retained on arm 667 betweenthe main body of the toggle lever 666 and the two spaced lugs 668 on thepawl, a washer 671 being provided at both ends of the spring. Extendingtoward the front of each toggle lever is a yoke arm 672. Pivotallymounted between the forward extending yoke arms 672 of the right andleft toggle levers on a vertical lug 673 of one of the legs of theU-shaped link 643, is a rocker 674 with its right and left hand lateralarms positioned within the respective right and left hand yoke arms 672.With this arrangement, pivotal movement of one of the toggle levers willresult in opposite pivotal movement of the other toggle lever, thus inFIGURE 4, the near toggle is pivoted counterclockwise which, throughrocker 674,

causes the far toggle to pivot clockwise, which positions the near pawl652 clockwise toward its ratchet wheel and the far pawl 652counterclockwise away from its ratchet wheel.

With the right-hand toggle lever 666 positioned as in FIGURE 4, the lineof force of its spring 670 passes to the rear of pawl journal 656,biasing and maintaining the right-hand pawl 652 into engagement with itscorresponding ratchet wheel 654. Since the left-hand toggle lever ispivoted opposite to the right-hand toggle lever the line of force of itsspring 670 passes toward the front of the pawl journal 656, biasing andmaintaining the left-hand pawl 652 out of engagement with its ratchetwheel. The upper end of each vertical leg of the U-shaped link 643 isformed as a toggle limiting tab 675 disposed above the yoke arm 72 ofeach toggle lever 666. The left tab 6'75 provides a limit stop for theleft toggle lever 666 and limits the ratchet engagement or clockwisepivoted position of the right-hand pawl 652 to prevent the bar 663 frombeing spring biased into bottoming engagement with the ratchet wheelteeth. Similarly, theright tab 675 limits pivoted ratchet engagementmovement of the left pawl. By the toggle mechanism just described, oneof the pawls is always pivoted away from ratchet engagement when theopposite pawl is in ratchet engaging position. As the toggle mechanismand pawls are mounted on the U-shaped link 643 coupled to the operatinglever arm 638, pivotal movement of lever 638 will reciprocate link 643and both pawls 652 up and down. On the up stroke, one pawl 652 engagesits ratchet wheel 654 and rotates the corresponding ribbon spool 636enough to feed the ribbon 664 one character space. On the down stroke ofU-sh-aped link 6 43 the driving pawl slides back over the teeth of itsratchet Wheel in preparation for the next feed stroke. The other feedpawl also moves up and down but is biased away from engagement with itsratchet wheel by the toggle mechanism just described.

To prevent the driving ratchet wheel from backing freely during thereturn stroke of the drive pawl, the previously mentioned detent levers653 are pivotally journalled on a shaft 677 passing through and fixed inthe support 637 just below the ratchet wheels 654. Each of the detentlevers 653 is biased by a spring 678 in a direction placing a transverseratchet wheel engaging bar 679 toward engagement with its respectiveratchet wheel 654. However, a vertical finger 686 extends upward fromeach detent lever 653 in front of the transverse bar 663 on itscorresponding pawl 652. Thus whenever a pawl 652 is in the disengagedposition it Will also move its detent lever 653 away from engagementwith the ratchet wheel 654 to permit ribbon unwinding of the spoolcarried by that ratchet wheel.

To enable automatic reversal of the direction of ribbon feed a ribbonsensing 1ever'655 is provided for each spool 61% and is pivoted on thesame shaft 677 as the detent levers 653. When a ribbon spool is empty,an opening 6360 (see FEGURE 9) in the spool core 6365b is uncovered bythe unwound ribbon, and a curved finger 682 on the sensing lever 655 isenabled to move forward (to the right as reviewed in FIGURE 3) throughthe spool core opening 6360 under bias of a spring 683. As the finger682 is an integral part of the sensing lever 655 it moves forward (tothe right) and places an upper arm 684 under a rearwardly (to the leftas viewed in FIGURE 3) directed lug 685 on the corresponding togglelever 666. On the next downward movement of the operating lever 638, thetoggle assembly which is spring-coupled to each of the two ribbon feedpawls 652 is operated by engagement between the empty spool sensinglever 655 and the lug 655 on its corresponding toggle lever 666. Thisaction causes the pawl 652 of the full ribbon spool 636 to move awayfrom its mating ratchet wheel 654, and the other pawl 652 to i movetoward its mating ratchet wheel 654. As the reperforator continues tooperate in response to received messages, the ribbon feed pawl 652associated with the empty ribbon spool 635 now engages its associatedratchet wheel 654- on each upward movement, and the ribbon 6%4 begins towind on the empty spool 636. This reversing action occurs automaticallyon either side as each ribbon spool in turn becomes empty.

As the ribbon 604 is unwound from either spool 636, it passes over aribbon inking roller 6%, j-ournalled on the ends of shaft 647, thendownward around the typewheel 360, and upward over another inking roller6% to the other spool 636. An ink reservoir 691, mounted below theribbon inking rollers 690, has two wicks 692 which extend upward tocontact the rollers 6%. Ink drawn upward by the wicks 92 adheres to theinking rollers 690 and is absorbed by the ribbon 594 as it passes overthe rollers. Thus the ink ribbon 694 need not be changed until itbecomes worn.

Between the spools 636, the ink ribbon 604 forms a depending loop whichis retained in position relative to the typewheel 369 by a ribbon guide605 which is axially fixed relative to the typewheel. In the exemplaryembodiment the typewheel 360 is axially shiftable and the ribbon guide665 shifts concurrently and along with the typewheel.

With references to FIGURES 7 and 8, power to move the typewheel forwardis supplied by the typewheel reciprocating cam 243 on the function shaft=194, which begins rotating after the transfer operation. As thereciprocating cam 243 rotates, a high portion 570 of the cam (PiGURE S)pushes one arm 57d, carrying a roller 572, of a reciprocating camfollower 573 downward. This action causes the opposite arm 574- of thecam follower 573, coupled to a typewheel drive lever assembly 575, tomove upward and rotate the drive lever assembly 575 clockwise, as viewedfrom the rear, about a pivot post 576 mounted in the machine frame plate339. The drive lever assembly includes a drive lever 578 and two sideplates 575 journalled on the same pivot post 5'76. Lever arm 574 iscoupled to positively shift the plates 57?. Drive lever 578 is heldagainst a pin 53% fixed between plates 579, by a spring 551. Thus drivelever 578 will shift with the plates 579 until blocked in its path ofmovement whereupon the drive lever 57 S will remain stationary and theplates will complete the reciprocating movement, the differentialmovement between the plate and lever resulting from the connectingspring 581. When the typewheel drive lever assembly 575 rotates, thedrive lever 578 is moved to abut and shift a typewheel transfer leverarm 58 (seen in both of FIGURES 7 and 8) of a transfer lever 585 whichis pivotally journalled, between the arm 584 and an oppositely directedarm 586, on an adjustable eccentric stud 587 which is mounted on alateral extension 538 of a machine frame plate 339. Ann 586 has two,spaced, downwardly directed lugs 590 which bridge a pin 591 in the upperarm 592 of a vertically journalled bell crank assembly 593 which can beseen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The bell crank assembly has a shaft 594-journalled in extensions of the punch and printing support frame 258,and is maintained in axially fixed relation by collars 5*)6. Firmlyclamped to the lower end of shaft 594- is a lo ver bell crank arm 598extending over a hollow typewheel hub shaft 361. The end of arm 598carries a depending stud 599 which projects, with a close free-runningfit, into an annular groove 6% in the hollow shaft 36d.

Pivotal rotation of the drive lever 578, pivots the transfer lever 585thereby pivoting the bell crank assembly 5%, which moves the typewheel360 forward above the front edge of the message tape 172 just beforeprinting occurs. Seen in FIGURE 5, the inking ribbon 604, coacts withthe type-wheel assembly through a ribbon guide 6-35 mounted on an upperpin extension 6% of the lower bell crank pin 599, reciprocatcs forward,carrying the ink ribbon with the typewheel 36%. As the reciprocating cam24-3 continues to rotate after printing occurs, a low portion of the cam243 permits a spring 608 (FIG- URE 8), connected between the camfollower 573 and an anchor bar 567, to return the reciprocating camfollower 573 and the drive lever 578 to their original positions. Thisaction permits a spring 619 (FIGURE 7), connected to the lower bellcrank arm 598, to return the typewheel 368 and the ribbon guide 605 totheir normal rear position, determined by engagement of transfer leverarm 584 with the drive lever 578, and exposes the print character on thetape of the view of the operator.

Bolted on the sides of the rear part of support 637 are complementarybrackets 695 and 6%. Fixed at the top of the brackets 695 and 696 is arod 697 on which a ribbon retainer 698 is lightly biased by a spring 699so its lower end 765) rides on and exerts a slight friction against theribbon wound on each spool. Rear ears 701 on each bracket 655 and 6% arebent laterally and forward and provide a pivotal mount for a U-shapedwire rod 702 which can pivot to retain the spools 636 on the ratchethubs 661. To maintain the retainer rod 702 in a spool retaining positiona spring biased detent pin 793 is disposed in a blind bore 764 in therear face of the support 637, and engages a flat surface 7 G5 on the rod7 02. Ears 706 on each bracket 695, 6% provide anchors for the detentlever and sensing finger springs 678 and 683 while the retainer rod hi2serves as the anchor for the ribbon retainer springs 699. Note theribbon retainers 698 provide only sufficient friction on the ribbon toprevent a free rotation of the unwinding spool which is otherwise freeto rotate.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly comprising: a support; apair of rotatable ribbon spools; a spool drive hub and ratchet wheel forand connected to each spool, all rotatably mounted on a common axis;linkage means reciprocably mounted between said spool drive hubs,including a pawl for each ratchet wheel and a common reciproca-blecarrying means mounting said parwls, for alternatively drivinglyengaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels to rotate thecorresponding spool; means fastened to said reciprocable pawl carryingmeans adapted to engage a cyclically operated member to reciprocate saidpawl carrying means and rotate one of said spools to feed a ribbon; andmeans actuated by said reciprocable linkage means and automaticallyresponsive to the other of said spools being completely unwound of aribbon to cause said reciprocaible linkage means to engage the ratchetwheel of said other spool to feed a ribbon in the opposite direction.

2. In a printer having an intermittently rotatable power driven shaft,an ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly mounted on a fixed portionof the printer comprising: a pair of rotatable spools having an inkribbon wound thereon; a spool drive hub and ratchet wheel for eachspool, all rotatably mounted on a common axis; means mounted forreciprocation between said spool drive hubs in a path transverse to saidcommon axis, including a drive pawl for each ratchet wheel and a commonreciprocable carrying means mounting said pawls, for alternativelydrivingly engaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels to wind theribbon on the corresponding spool; means interconnecting said powerdriven shaft and said reciprocable pawl carrying means whereby rotationof the shaft will invariably reciprocate said pawl carrying means andpositively engage to cause a pawl to rotate one of said spools to feedsaid ribbon; and

means automatically responsive to the other of said spools beingcompletely unwound of ribbon to cause said reciprocated pawl carryingmeans to transfer positive engagement of one pawl with the ratchet Wheelof said one spool to positive engagement of the other pawl with theratchet wheel of the alternate spool during reciprocation to rotate thealternate spool and feed the ribbon in the opposite direction.

3. A printer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ribbon assemblyincludes an ink reservoir mounted below the ribbon spools with means fortransferring ink from the reservoir to the ribbon.

4. In a printer having a selectively positioned and axially shiftabletypewheel and an intermittently rotatable function shaft, an ink feedingand reversing assembly mounted on a fixed portion of the printercomprising: a pair of rotatable spools having an ink ribbon woundthereon with a loop of said ribbon passing between said spools; a spooldrive hub and ratchet wheel for each spool, all rota-tably mounted on acommon axis; means coaxially connecting a said spool to an associatedsaid spool drive hub; pawl carrying means reciprocably mounted betweensaid spool drive hubs for alternatively drivingly engaging one or theother of said ratchet wheels to enable the winding of a ribbon on thecorresponding spool; means interconnecting said function shaft and saidreciprocable pawl carrying means whereby rotation of the function shaftwill reciprocate the pawl carrying means and rotate one of said spools;means in said reversing assembly automatically responsive to the otherof said spools being completely unwound of ribbon to cause thereciprocable means to engage the ratchet wheel of the alternate spool tofeed the ribbon in the opposite direction; and means interconnectingsaid function shaft and said typewheel for axially shifting saidtype-wheel and including a ribbon guide shiftable with said type-wheelfor guiding the ribbon loop around the typewheel and shifting said loopcoincident with typewheel shift.

5. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for a type machine,having a pair of spool drive hubs for the ink ribbon spools, each spooldrive hub being fixed to a separate ratchet wheel, said spool drive hubsbeing freely rotatable in slightly spaced apart disposition on a commonaxis, both of said ratchet wheels being disposed on said common axisbetween said drive hubs, a reciproeating pawl carrier slidably mountedfor reciprocation in a path normal to and closely adjacent said axisbetween the drive hubs, and having shiftable pawl means operativelypositionable so that either of said ratchet Wheels can be selectivelypositively driven to the exclusion of positive drive to the other wheel,a dual toggle assembly carried by said pawl carrier, and ribbon sensingmeans adapted to be shifted into operative engagement with said toggleassembly each time a spool is completely unwound to shift said toggleassembly whereby the ratchet wheel associated with the spool drive hubfor the unwound spool, during subsequent pawl carrier reciprocation, isengaged by the cooperating pawl and the other pawl is shifted to aposition where it does not engage its ratchet wheel.

6. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 5,wherein said dual toggle assembly includes an interconnecting rockercarried .by said pawl carrier for assuring opposite conjoint actuationof both toggle devices of said dual toggle assembly.

7. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6,wherein each of said dual toggle assemblies engages and positions anassociated pawl means in either an operative or inoperative path, aone-way reverse latching detent is provided for each of said ratchetwheels, and a means on each of said pawl means is adapted to engage andshift the associated reverse latching detent to an inoperative positionduring the time said associated pawl means is positioned to itsinoperative path.

8. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 5,wherein idler rollers are mounted on a common axis parallel to saiddrive hub axis and are positioned in front of said ribbon drive hubsenabling a loop of ribbon from spools on the hubs to pass over therollers and hang between the rollers.

9. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 8,wherein said rollers are also ribbon inking rollers, and an inkreservoir device is mounted below said rollers and includes means fortransferring ink from said reservoir to said ribbon.

10. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for a type machinehaving a pair of spool drive hubs for the ink ribbon spools, both drivehubs being freely rotatable on a common axis, a separate ratchet wheelfixed to each of said spool drive hubs and both of said ratchet wheelsdisposed bet-ween said drive hubs, separate pawl type driving means foreach ratchet wheel, each of said pawl driving means including a twoposition component having a ratchet driving position and a ratchetnon-driving position, and a spring loaded overcenter linkage whichdetains the two position component selectively in both positions, acommon reciprocable carrier for both of said pawl type driving means,means connected to said pawl type driving means includinginterconnecting means between said overcenter linkages, and ink ribbonspool condition sensing means operative to change over the ratchet driveeach time a spool is unwound whereby the ratchet wheel of such unwoundspool is engaged by its cooperating pawl type driving means and theother pawl type driving means is disengaged from its associated ratchetwheel.

'11. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim10, wherein machine power means connect with said carrier to reciprocatesaid carrier so that the inked ribbon is moved each time after twomachine operation cycles.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,774 12/13SOhm 197-151 1,474,111 11/23 Gabrielson 197-175 1,609,119 11/26 Kassner197161 1,788,376 1/31 Barrett 197-160 2,102,216 12/37 Pelton 197l'71EUBENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. ROBERT A. LEIGH EY, ROBERT E.PULFREY,

Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,184,028 May 18, 1965 Edward F. Kleinschmidt et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 2, line 16, for "dusk" read dust column 6, line 74, for "and"read to cause a pawl to lines 74 and 75, for to cause a pawl to" readand Signed and sealed this 26th day of October 1965.

:SEAL) Allest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN INK RIBBON FEEDING AND REVERSING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A SUPPORT APAIR OF ROTATABLE RIBBON SPOOLS; A SPOOL DRIVE HUB AND RATCHET WHEEL FORAND CONNECTED TO EACH SPOOL, ALL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A COMMON AXIS;LINKAGE MEANS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SPOOL DRIVE HUBS,INCLUDING A PAWL FOR EACH RATCHET WHEEL AND A COMMON RECIPROCABLECARRYING MEANS MOUNTING SAID PAWLS, FOR ALTERNATIVELY DRIVING ENGAGINGONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID RATCHET WHEELS TO ROTATE THE CORRESPONDINGSPOOL; MEANS FASTENED TO SAID RECIPROCABLE PAWL CARRYING MEANS ADAPTEDTO ENGAGE A CYCLICALLY OPERATED MEMBER TO RECIPROCATE SAID PAWL CARRYINGMEANS AND ROTATE ONE OF SAID SPOOLS TO FEED A RIBBON; AND MEANS ACTUATEDBY SAID RECIPROCABLE LINKAGE MEANS AND AUTOMATICALLY RESPONSIVE TO THEOTHER OF SAID SPOOLS BEING COMPLETELY UNWOUND OF A RIBBON TO CAUSE SAIDRECIPROCABLE LINKAGE MEANS TO ENGAGE THE RATCHET WHEEL OF SAID OTHERSPOOL TO FEED A RIBBON IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.